The plan is to have up to 19 computed tomography scans and nine magnetic resonance imaging scans on mainland machines at the Central Government-aided Emergency Hospital, the Hospital Authority said. The makeshift hospital was built during the fifth wave of Covid-19 pandemic last year but not used.

Non-emergency patients, aged between 12 to 80 and in stable condition and having normal mobility, including those who have been waiting for more than eight months, routine cases who have been waiting for more than 18 months, and suitable cases waiting to schedule an appointment date, are eligible to use the pilot program.

The hospital is equipped with three CT machines and one MRI machine.

"The pilot program aims to shorten waiting times and relieve the pressure on radiology service," the authority said.

It will also arrange for take patients and their companions to be ferried to the hospital from Sheung Shui MTR station.

Authority chairman Henry Fan Hung-ling said it is time to improve non-emergency service quality and reduce waiting times of 10 months for non-emergency cases.

He said the pilot program will first include hospitals in the New Territories East Cluster, followed by NT West.

Radiology chief Lee Sing-fun said the scheme will only be used for diagnostic purposes at this stage.